Materials: large "person" drawing (one per group of 5), markers
Explain that this session’s focus is on Respect. Start by asking these three questions to the large group:
How does respect look?
How does respect sound?
How does respect feel?” Allow for five minutes of discussion. 3 groups member volunteers can write down answers in each category on chart paper. Make sure to include how respectful words can make someone feel good, the tone of something respectful, facial expressions, body language etc.
Divide the large group into groups of 5. Everyone must introduce themselves. Have each group gather around a large person drawing. This person they are in front of is “Wanda” and Wanda is a victim of discrimination and bullying at school.
Tell the small groups that they each have 2 min to write negative comments that Wanda may hear every day at school. You are encouraged to write things you may have said to someone else, or have heard others say to you, that were negative, rude, and unkind. NO Cursing.
After 2 min stop the groups, and ask a representative from each group to crumble up their Wanda. Explain that the crumbling represents how hurtful words can affect us, scar us, and always stay with us.
Then have them flip the “Wanda” over and take 2 minutes to write positive things to Wanda. Make these middle school appropriate, but things you would really say to one another. Remember, Words hurt, and it’s impossible to take “disrespectful, hurtful” words back. However we can try to right our wrongs from the past by going forward with only positive and respectful things.
Discuss how would you feel in Wanda’s situation; what makes you feel better: negative unkind words, or positive words.
Watch the Words Hurt video (3 min) Words Hurt
Reminder to students that it is up to each of us to control our words and our actions, as there may be many like this student Alye among us
Goal: Power of Words
Materials: large "person" drawing (one per group of 5), markers
Watch the Words Hurt video (3 min) Words Hurt
Reminder to students that it is up to each of us to control our words and our actions, as there may be many like this student Alye among us
Watch the follow up video that Alye made, one year later: Words DO Hurt 1 year later
Watch the "Osseo Nice Things" video Standout Student